Bluff fish-handling deal ‘exclusive’

Press, 21 April 1979, Page 6

Bluff fish-handling deal ‘exclusive’

p\ Wellington The prospect of waterfront fish-handling legislation over-riding this week’s agreement putting waterside labour on to the German fish factory ship Wesermunde at Bluff had been “overemphasised,” according to the Secretary of Labour (Mr G. L. Jackson).

Reports on Thursday’s 11 Government catscus decision it suggested that legislation had | 1 been prepared ready to disrupt the Wellington agree-i< ment. Mr Jackson said. 'j "That is definitely not the'] case.” he said. “There hasp been too much emphasis on-] the legislation’s over-ridingl the agreement.” Mr Jackson said the parties •' to the Wellington agreement;. —the Federation of Labour.!] the Waterside Workers’ Fed-;, eration, and the charterers of I the Wesermunde—had been ], told by the Minister of Fish-J] eries (Mr Maclntyre) of the I | proposed legislation. They had been informed '■ by the Minister that the Gov- j emment’s position had al- ( ways been that the unloading of fishing vessels should be , done by fishermen and pro- j cess workers. ; “To make this clear, the 1 Government intends to intro- ' duce legislation.” Mr Macln- ! tyre had told the parties. "The Wellington agreement' applied exclusively to thej discharge of the Weser-; munde. It did not extend be- [ yond that vessel, Mr Jackson | said. Hurried negotiations at [ Bluff vesterdav resulted in!

labour being found to unload the Wesermunde, due on Sunday. High Seas Fisheries. Ltd, one of the partners in the joint fishing venture, had its Invercargill representative, Mr B. Cull, negotiating with the president of the Bluff Waterside Workers’ Union (Mr R. W. Powley) for much [of yesterday. A gang working a day shift . and a supplementary gang [will be available now to uniload the Wesermunde. The port is booming with I shipping, and it was feared [there would be a delay beI cause of a shortage of water- ; front labour. This could have resulted in berthage costs making the catch uneconomic. The ship is scheduled to make four more calls at Bluff to unload fish processed at sea. The Wellington agreement covers only next week’s discharging and the next four. ' Indications yesterday were 'that the Wesermunde schedule would be completed be-i [fore any legislation likely to [disturb the Wellington agreeiment was introduced in ParI liament. i The form the legislation I will take is not clear. The

Government could bring down an amendment to the Waterfront Industry Act, which defines the waterfront industry and the work to be done by waterside workers, but informed sources think this would not be the practical way of giving full expression to the Government’s intention. The act, for instance, prohibits the discharge of cement, sugar and some other cargoes coming within the work orbit of waterside workers, and fish could be a simple addition to the prohibited cargoes. Sources consider the Government likely to bring down a new act defining the waterfront handling of fish. The process of committee hearings, taking submissions and drafting makes it probable that the Wesermunde would have cleared New Zealand waters, or be close to doing so. before legislation was enacted. The secretary of the Federation (Mr W. J. Knox) yesterday was also certain that legislation would not override the Wellington agreement. There had been strong repercussions to reports of ‘that possibility, he. said.